Letter: A real plan needed to revamp Jazzland

Letter: A real plan needed to revamp Jazzland

Advocate staff photo by JOHN McCUSKER -- Jazzland, a New Orleans amusement park, has been dormant since Hurricane Katrina. Plans to build an outlet mall on the city-owned land are in limbo, according to the developer that the city chose to get the land back into commerce.

When driving on I-10 toward New Orleans East, the shadow of Six Flags, formerly called Jazzland, looms over the highway. Its massive rides slowly decaying are stark reminders of the destruction of the hurricane. Once the site of happiness and enjoyment, Six Flags has now become a symbol of the city’s failure.

Members of the city review committee have been considering plans to revamp Six Flags or redevelop the property. Many proposals have been to rebuild a theme park, movie-production back-lot, water park and retail component on the site. Another plan is to construct a world shopping center.

The only problem the committee has is the credibility of the companies looking to take on these projects. Paidia Co. has been the only company to register for the project. However, their project financing is not as stable as the committee would like.

With only 90 percent of the funds necessary to tackle the project, many committee members are seeing holes in the plans that bring the funds necessary to only 50 percent.

Not having a sure plan raises the question of whether redeveloping the site would be financially beneficial.

Many are worried the revenue produced will not be enough to sustain the theme park. The city of New Orleans needs to redevelop the site of the now-decaying Six Flags.

If it is to move on from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the structures that can be seen for miles over the tree line must be redeveloped. These plans will add a much-needed source of revenue and attract tourists and native New Orleanians to an area of New Orleans that saw much destruction and has recently seen rebirth.